Mattress Firm, Panera coming near new Hobby Lobby

Hobby Lobby plans to start renovating the former Stein Mart soon to open late in the year, while a Mattress Firm is under construction and Panera Bread will start construction in a month.

Special to the Guardian

Hobby Lobby plans to start renovating the former Stein Mart soon to open late in the year, while a Mattress Firm is under construction and Panera Bread will start construction in a month, both located in new outparcels along Newberry Road just north of Hobby Lobby and both hoping to open in the summer.Hobby Lobby recently announced that it would start construction and renovation soon on the 55,000-square-foot building at 6111 Newberry Road. The company applied for a permit to do an $890,000 interior build-out in December.The store is projected to open in late 2014, although an opening date has not been announced. The store will hire 35 to 50 people paying $14 an hour for full-time employees and $9.50 for part-time jobs.A 4,000-square-foot Mattress Firm is under construction in front of the former Stein Mart, with work expected to finish in late May for a likely summer opening, said David Hass, a Delray Beach developer.Panera Bread plans to start construction next door in a month to open in late July or early August, said Vikki Kaiser, spokeswoman for the franchisee, the Covelli Family Limited Partnership of Tampa.The bakery-cafe will include a drive-thru and a patio, she said.— Anthony ClarkFormaggio's BistroFormaggio's Bistro and Wine Bar is now open in the Thornebrook Village shopping center at 2441 NW 43rd St.Among the offerings are soups, salads, sandwiches and wine by the glass and bottle."We're in the beginning stages, but so far it's been pretty good," said Michael Ragusa, a longtime chef from New York who most recently served as the executive chef at the Sandy Butler restaurant in Fort Myers.Ragusa moved to Gainesville to start Formaggio's, his first venture on his own, and he runs it with his wife and stepfather, along with two waiters.The hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays; and closed on Sundays.BurgerFi opensNational chain BurgerFi had its first opening in Gainesville on Saturday. About 40 to 50 employees will work there.It has many earth-friendly features: furnishings made from reused materials and the practice of recycling cardboard, plastic, glass and cooking oil. Menu items include burgers, hot dogs, fries, wine, beer and frozen custard.BurgerFi is located in Butler Plaza at 3518 Archer Road and is open 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday to Thursday, and 11 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday.Coffee Culture closes, Relish to move inCoffee Culture's Newberry Road business has closed, while its other location, at 2020 NW 13th St., will remain open."It just came time to make a decision," owner Alisa Kenney said, "and so I just had to face reality and let it go."Property owner AMJ Inc. confirmed that a Relish hamburger shop will take over the location at 3822 W. Newberry Road. In June, Coffee Culture will hit 11 years in Gainesville, she said.The Mix closesThe Mix Bistro on Southwest Second Avenue closed Monday."Unfortunately, we were unable to meet the sales goals that we had hoped for, and we've made the decision to close," the business wrote in an email to customers.The Mix, which opened in May 2013, had just changed its name from KC Crave because of a name conflict with the Crave restaurant chain.— Michael StoneAnthony Clark is the Gainesville Sun business editor and Michael Stone is a Gainesville Sun correspondent.